Main character: Yang(M) & Lo(M) // Place: City H
At nine in the evening, the city’s neon lights flickered one by one as the crowds on the streets gradually thinned. Tucked away in an unremarkable alley was an old open-air eatery, its warm, yellow lights still glowing. The tables and chairs were a little worn, but the familiar hum of human warmth and everyday life always drew regulars to linger.
Yang and Lo sat at a table outside in the alley. On the table were two half-empty glasses of beer and a plate of stir-fried beef rice noodles, mostly eaten. The heat had faded, leaving only a faint, lingering wok aroma in the air.
Lo took a big gulp of his drink and suddenly asked, “Hey, Yang, didn’t you say your friend got married recently? Did you go to the wedding?”
Yang lifted his head, smiled, and nodded.
“Yeah. I was even one of the groomsmen. It was a whole day of running around. I’m still tired from it.”
Lo swirled the last bit of beer in his bottle, his tone hesitant.
“…Actually, I’ve been thinking about something. What does marriage even mean?”
The unexpected question made Yang pause. He didn’t answer immediately—just looked at him quietly, as if he could hear the weight behind the words.
Lo lowered his head, speaking slowly, with a hint of self-mockery in his voice.
“Think about it. Qian and I have been together for five years. Our families have already met, we’ve lived together for a while, all our friends know we’re a couple, and our relationship has always been stable. So then—why do we need to get married?”
The autumn night carried a faint chill, stirring the receipts and napkins on the table and disrupting the stillness between them.
These days, marriage is no longer an inevitable choice. Divorce isn’t shocking anymore. In some countries, living together for two years counts as a stable partnership. And plenty of celebrities get married and divorce within a year.
Lo stared at the melting ice in his glass, his expression calm.
“I used to think—if it’s not for financial reasons, not for legal protection, then why step into marriage at all?”
Yang nodded slightly, his voice softening. “You’re right. Just like relationships can end, marriage doesn’t guarantee forever. Instead of chasing a label, maybe just living simply together is enough.”
He chuckled softly, as though remembering something, and his eyes grew warm.
“But… after going to that wedding not long ago, my view started to change.”
Lo raised his head, curious.
“Whose wedding?”
“My cousin’s. I’ve been close to her since we were kids—almost like siblings. That day, she wore a wedding dress, her father holding her hand, step by step walking down the aisle. When she reached the groom and was handed over, the entire room fell silent… and then, a thunder of applause.”
Yang’s lips curved in a faint smile, the memory still vivid. “They’d already been living together for ten years. Both families had long accepted them. But when they stood in front of everyone and said ‘I do,’ I felt something real. A wedding isn’t just a ceremony—it’s a public choice and a promise.”
Lo’s expression shifted.
“You mean… a wedding is a way to declare your commitment to the world?”
Yang nodded.
“Exactly. In today’s society, we value privacy so much that we handle most things quietly, on our own. But marriage is different. It’s standing before everyone, taking your partner’s hand, and saying: ‘This is the person I choose. I’m willing to be responsible for them.’ That kind of courage—that’s meaningful.”
He glanced out at the streetlights, remembering the year he graduated from university. He’d already earned his credits, received his grades, even had a job lined up.
When the graduation ceremony date was announced six months later, he’d hesitated about taking time off to go. But the moment he put on the gown, walked across the stage, received the diploma from the principal, and heard the applause—he truly felt it: I’ve graduated.
That was when he realized the ceremony wasn’t about the piece of paper or grades. It was about witnessing that moment—and receiving blessings for it.
Yang turned back to Lo and smiled.
“Marriage has never been about the certificate itself. It’s about that moment—the turning point in a relationship. You choose your partner, stand together in the light, let everyone see, and say openly, ‘I choose this person. Please give us your blessing.’ That’s the meaning of marriage.”
Lo didn’t reply. He just listened quietly, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass, as if feeling something—or digesting the tide of emotions within.
Finally, as though something had clicked, a small smile broke across his face. The confusion in his eyes was gone. “Hearing you say that… it does sound kind of romantic.”
He took a sip of beer, his voice calm but firm. “I know Qian’s been waiting for me. I’ve always said I wanted to give her a better future. I used to say, ‘there’s no rush.’ But now… I think I understand. Marriage isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a new journey.”
Hearing that, Yang knew he’d found his answer. He laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Then maybe… I’ll be getting your wedding invitation soon.”
Lo laughed and swore at him. “Screw you!”
The two of them looked at each other and smiled.
To be continued...
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